Menu

What do Millennials invest in?

I hear this question a lot, “as a Millennial, what exactly should I invest in for retirement?”

A lot Millennials aren’t sure which mutual funds or ETFs they should be investing in for the greatest success. I am a Millennial and I’m very proud of my personal performance on my retirement portfolio, which I’ve 100% managed myself.

My personal rate of return since I began investing in 2008 is 9.8%. I am my own financial advisor because I don’t want to spend the money on one. And I strongly believe you should be too.

What I invest in for retirement as a Millennial

My work Roth 401(k) retirement account

Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX)

Expense ratio = 0.05%

% of my work Roth 401(k) = 55%

Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VEXAX)

Expense ratio = 0.09%

% of my work Roth 401(k) = 25%

Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX)

Expense ratio = 0.14%

% of my work Roth 401(k) = 20%

My Roth IRA retirement account

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund (VFORX)

Expense ratio = 0.16%

% of my Roth IRA = 100%

My wife’s Roth IRA retirement account

Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund (VSIAX)

Expense ratio = 0.08%

% of Roth IRA = 42%

Vanguard REIT Index Fund (VGSLX)

Expense ratio = 0.12%

% of Roth IRA = 40%

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund (VFORX)

Expense ratio = 0.16%

% of Roth IRA = 18%

Overall my asset allocation mix is 90% stocks and 10% bonds. I know I am very aggressive with my investment mix, but I feel strongly about that aggression as a Millennial, considering I have just under 30 years before I will retire (hopefully by the age of 60). I will begin to get more conservative as I hit 40 years old.